McCartney Times

Dehradun: The fusion of different creative art forms during the ongoing Rishikesh Art and Film Festival have revived memories of the time spent by the Beatles at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram, now popularly known as the Beatles Ashram (one of the venues of the festival) in the spring of 1968 when they composed a number of songs which eventually made it to their popular ‘White Album’. However, not many would be aware that the ‘Fab Four’ also penned a song titled ‘Dehradun’ during this time which never got released but is remembered by many music lovers in the Doon valley. Almost five decades after it was composed, the eminently hummable song (now available on online platforms like YouTube) does not fail to strike a chord with old-timers as well as present generation music lovers. “The Beatles immortalised Dehradun with this beautiful track. Anyone who loves the town will surely relate with the soulful lyrics,” said Ajit Singh, owner of Pratap Music House, one of the oldest music stores in Dehradun which the famed quartet visited during their stay in Rishikesh.The lyrics of the song are a catchy ode to the town – which was a charming retreat in the Himalayan foothills at that time. Evidently, its charm had worked sufficiently enough on the Beatles — who were in one of the most creative phases of their career in the late 1960s – motivating them to sing: “Dehra Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun Dun/ Dehra Dehra Dun/Dehra Dun Dun/ Many roads can take you there /Many different ways/One direction takes you weeks/ Another takes you days/ Many people on the roads /Looking at the sights/ Many others with their troubles/Looking for their rights/See them move along the roads/In search of a life divine /Beggars in a gold mine …Dehra Dehra Dun /Dehra Dun Dun.”

Source: Remembering the Beatles song on Dehradun which never got released | Dehradun News – Times of India